
Oral infections have been rising in recent years. The grim scenario can be attributed to lifestyle choices, paucity of time, neglect, etc. There is a need to put stress on the need to ensure overall oral health. This seems to be taken care of by the professionals working in the field of public health dentistry.
Keep reading to know more about the field of public health dentistry.
What is Public Health Dentistry?
The branch of dentistry, which looks to prevent oral diseases and promote overall health of mouth, is called public health dentistry. It is a para-clinical specialty of dentistry.
This field tries to employ preventive and curative measures to achieve the goal of improving the oral health of the people. It also evaluates dental health needs and looks for ways to achieve them.
Instead of handling individual patients at a clinic, these experts look to cure oral infections of the whole community.
Minimum Eligibility
To get admission in a public health dentistry course at undergraduate level, an aspiring candidate should have completed 10+2 education from a recognised board with minimum 50% marks in the qualifying examination. The students should have studied subjects like physics, chemistry and biology in 10+2.
For bagging a seat in the course of public health dentistry at postgraduate level, the student should have secured a bachelor’s degree in the same or related discipline with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
The candidate may also have to clear entrance exams or find a place in the merit list to get admission in public health dentistry in the desired educational institution at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The percentage required for getting admission in this course can also vary as per the institution.
Scope
There is a huge scope of public health dentistry in both India and abroad. There has also been a rise in the demand for these professionals in recent years as nowadays people are highly concerned about oral health.
Opportunities
There are many job opportunities for the professionals in the field of public health dentistry. These experts seem to have a great future and also get paid well.
These professionals can work in several job profiles, such as dental surgeon, community counsellor, public health inspector, professor, healthcare administrator, etc.
The top recruiters in the field of public health dentistry are Manipal Hospital, Max Healthcare, Global Hospital, Columbia Asia Hospital, Medanta- The Medicity, Apollo Hospital, Christian Medical Hospital, Fortis, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, AIIMS, P.D. Hinduja Hospital, etc.
Skills Required
The candidates should have a set of essential skills to build a bright future in the field of public health dentistry. These include in-depth knowledge about subject, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, communication skills, project management skills, time management skills, observation, decision making skills, analytical skills, leadership skills, persuasive skills, precision, self-discipline, organisational skills, attention to detail, perseverance, motivation, hardworking nature, deal with emotionally charged situations, team working skills, determination, etc.
Why choose Public Health Dentistry?
Looking to build a stable career in the healthcare industry? If yes, you should consider taking up public health dentistry as a career option as it may open several doors of success.